5 fatalities

Mountain Impact in Poor Weather Near Boana (44-78490)

Boana, Papua New GuineaFlight

On October 10, 1945, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 44-78490) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Boana, Papua New Guinea in flight. 5 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft struck the slope of Mt Sarwaged while cruising at 11,000 feet in reduced visibility caused by rain. All five occupants on board were killed in the accident.

What happened

The incident occurred during a cruise phase flight at an altitude of 11,000 feet. The aircraft encountered poor weather conditions characterized by rainfall, which significantly reduced visibility. While navigating through this environment, the plane impacted the slope of Mt Sarwaged. This mountain is situated approximately 22 kilometers north of Boana. Search and recovery teams located the wreckage several hours after the collision. Regrettably, all five occupants aboard the aircraft perished in the event.

Findings

The primary environmental factor cited in the circumstances was the reduced visibility resulting from active rain falls at the time of the accident. The impact occurred while the aircraft was maintaining its cruising altitude in these challenging meteorological conditions.